Envelope for two-way use



1958 L. HIERSTEINER 2,846,135

- ENVELOPE FOR fIWO-WAY USE Filed Sept. 29. 1954 2 sh ets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 5, 1958 w. L. HIERSTEINER I 2,846,135

ENVELOPE FOR TWO-WAY USE Filed Sept. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Walter L. Hl'erslelher'.

MWW

A TTORNE'YS'.

ENVELOPE FOR TWG-WAY USE Walter L, Hiersteiner, Kansas City, l t/10., assignor to Tension Envelope Qorporation, Kansas City, M0., a corporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1954, Serial No. 459,011

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-73) This invention relates to envelopes and more particularly to a two-way envelope for an enclosure which is to be returned to the sender in the same envelope.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a structure for an envelope for two-way use which eliminates hand addressing thereof.

A further object is to provide an envelope for two- Way use with a division flap or extension that cooperates with an enclosure and a windowed face panel to form a compartment in the pocket of the envelope for containing a portion of an enclosure which bears an address thereon which is visible through the window opening for the first use, and to form a rear o second compartment in the envelope pocket for containing said portion of the enclosure during the second use, while an address on the division flap is visible within the window opening for the second use.

Another object of the invention is to provide the envelope with a closure flap arranged to cover the stamp and return address of a first mailing and to carry the stamp and return address for the second maiiingf Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple construction for a two-way envelope that may be manufactured in accordance with standard envelope procedures; and to provide a two-way envelope which eliminates possibility of errors on the part of the users thereof.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, i have provided improved structure the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a two-way envelope constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the envelope as it appears for the first mailing.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of the envelope showing the envelope as it appears for the second or return mailing.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank from which the envelope is formed.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the blank partially folded during the making of the envelope therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the envelope with the sealing flap open and an enclosure being inserted into the pocket of the envelope with one end of the enclosure in the front compartment to expose the name and address thereon through the window during the time of the first Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the address for the second use appearing in the window of the envelope and showing the insert enclosure being inserted with one end thereof within the rear compartment.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an envelope constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a back panel 2, a front panel 3 connected with the respective ends of the back panel by end flaps 4 and 5, to form a pocket for an enclosure. The flap 5 has an extension 5 to divide one end of the pocket into a front compartment 2,846,135 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 6 and a rear compartment 7. The front side 3 of the envelope is also provided with a window 8 that registers with the compartments and with an address area St on the adjacent face of the extension 5 for an address 10 0f the first user.

The envelope also includes a closure flap 11 that is hinged to the back panel 2 and is adapted to be tucked into the envelope between the front panel 3 and the extension 5 of the end flap 5 or folded over and sealed to the front panel 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

The envelope also has a stamp area 12 at the upper right-hand corner of the front panel 3 for applying a stamp 13 while the opposite corner is provided with an area 14 bearing the return address 15 of the first user or sender of the envelope as later described.

The inner face side 16 of the closure flap is preferably provided with a gum 17 which is adapted to be sealed to the outer face of the front panel 3 in another position of the closure flap. The outer face 18 (Fig. 2) of the closure flap 11 has an area 19 at one end thereof for a stamp 20 while the opposite end has an area 21 carrying the return address 22 fo the second mailing.

To facilitate insertion and removal of an enclosure and tucking of the closure flap within the envelope, the edge 23 of the front panel 3 has an inwardly extending notch portion 24.

The envelope thus described is formed in accordance with standard envelope manufacturing practices from died-out blank 25 (Fig. 3) having an elongated body portion 26 that forms the back panel 2 and which is defined by transverse lines of fold 27 and 28 and side or end folds 29 and 30. Extending outwardly from the respective lines of fold, are flaps 31, 32, 33'and' 34 for forming the closure flap 11, front panel 3, end flap 5 and the division or extension 5 and the-end or flap 4 previously mentioned.

The end flap 5, which has the extension 5, has edges 35 and 36 substantially registering with the longitudinal folds 27 and 28 so that when the flap 33 is folded'over the innerface of the body portion 26, the flap 33 is of sufiicient lenth to overlap the innermost edge 37 of the window 8.

The bottom flap 32 substantially conforms in size with the body portion 26 whereby the edges 38 and 39 substantially register with points of side folds 29 and 3t] and the free outer edge 40 constitutes the edge 23 of the finished envelope.

The side flap 34 is relatively narrower than the flap 33 and also corresponds to the depth of the envelope with the end edges 41 and 42 registering with the fold lines 27 and 28. The flap 31 constitues the closure flap 11 and is of sufiicient depth to be tucked safely within the envelope in one position and to cover the return address 15 and stamp 12 and to bear on the outer face the return address 22 and the stamp 24 for the second mailing. The ends 43 and 44 of the flap 30 are preferably rounded as shown to facilitate tucking thereof within the envelope.

The dry gum 17 is on the inner face side of the flap 31 and the side marginal portions of the flap 32 have applied thereto, during the formation of the envelope, stripes of adhesive 45 and 46.

Prior to folding the outer face, the flap 31 may be printed with the return address 22 to be used for the second mailing, and the corresponding face side of the flap 33 is printed with the name and address 10 of the first mailer. The marginal portion of the flap 32 is printed at one end with the return address 15 for the first mailing which corresponds with the name and address applied on the flap 33. The flap 33 may also be printed at the upper marginal portion with instructions 47 explaining the manner of using the envelope (Fig. 4).

The blank is folded on the lines 29 and 30 to turn the side flaps 33 and 34 inwardly upon the inner face of the body portion 26 and the flap 32 is folded along the line 28 over the side flaps 33 and 34 to "bring the adhesive stripes 4S and 46 into sealing contact with the foldedover side flaps to close the sides of the envelope and form the pocket 48 for the closure and the front and rear end compartments 6 and 7 that are separated by the division flap of the finished envelope. Attention is directed to the fact that the portion of the side flap 33 which constitutes the extension 5' is loosely contained between the front and back panels of the envelope, and that the compartments formed thereby are open along the insert opening of the envelope.

In using the form of the envelope illustrated and described, an enclosure designated 49 is prepared, including the name and address 50 of the first addressee for the first mailing. The enclosure 49 is placed in the pocket 43 of the envelope with the end having the address 59 entering the front compartment 6 (Fig. 5) so that when the closure flap 11 is folded alongthe score line 27 and tucked through the insert opening of the envelope, the enclosure will be fixed relative to the window 8 with the address 50 appearing therethrough. Attention is called to termination of the adhesive 45 to leave the upper portion of the front side 2 free from the flap 5 to facilitate tucking in of the closure flap at that end of the envelope. A stamp 13 is then applied in the conventional manner to the upper right-hand corner area 12 and the closed envelope (Fig. l) is placed in the mail for delivery to the addressee.

Upon receipt of the envelope, the closure flap 11 is withdrawn from the compartment 6 and the enclosure 49 is removed for inspection by the addressee. The addressee will again use the envelope by attaching payment to the enclosure 49 and inserting the enclosure, together with the payment, so that an end thereof enters the rear compartment. In this position the second mailing address for the second mailing appears through the window. This time, the envelope is closed by moistening the gum on the closure flap, folding the closure fiap over the outer face of the front sides of the envelope, and pressing the closure flap thereagainst to effect a seal in which position the first return address 15 and the stamp 12 are concealed. In this position the return address 22 for the second mailing appears at the same end of the envelope as the window 8 and a stamp is applied to the area 19 at the opposite end of the closure flap (Fig. 2). The envelope containing the enclosure and remittance is placed in the mail and it is delivered to the original sender whose name and address appears within the window opening.

It is obvious that the opening which forms the window may be covered by a transparent patch which may be applied thereto in the same manner as a conventional window envelope without departing from the spirit of the invention.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a two-way envelope that is of simple and inexpensive construction, which may be readily manufactured in accordance with standard methods, and which is easily used by both parties without the possibility of errors and without the necessity of hand addressing other than application of the second return address 22.

It is obvious that during the first mailing the delivery address 10 of the first sender and the return address area 21 of the sender are concealed by the enclosure 49 and the tucked-in closure fiap 11 respectively. While on the second mailing, these areas are exposed and the address of the second sender 5t and return address 15 of the first sender are concealed respectively by the dividing flap 5 and the sealed closure flap 11 which also covers and conceals the stamp 13 which is required for the first mailing.

It is also apparent that the window opening may be placed at either end of the envelope, in which case the side flap at that end is the long flap or the flap at the opposite end may be made sufficiently long to lap the window without departing from the spirit of the invention.

".r. Also the window may be provided in either the front or rear side and the closure flap could also be formed on either of the open edges.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A window envelope for two-way use and adapted to contain an addressed enclosure to be sent to a recipient and to be used 'by the recipient for returning the enclosure to the original sender, said envelope including gen erally rectangular front and back panels integrally connected along one corresponding edge of each panel by a fold, the front panel having a window therein, end flaps integral with opposite ends of one of said panels and having folds positioning said end flaps between said front and rear panels, stripes of adhesive connecting said end flaps immediately adjacent the folds thereof with corresponding ends of the other panel to cooperate with the first named fold to provide a closed bottom and closed ends for said envelope, the edges of the panels opposite said bottom being unconnected to provide an insert opening along the width of the envelope, one of said end flaps having an extension to cover the window on the inner side of the front panel and providing separate compartments within said envelope on the respective sides of said extension, each of said compartments being open along said insert opening, said extension having an address area on the face thereof nearest the window, an address positioned on said address area and serving as the address of the original sender, said compartment nearest the window being adapted to contain the addressed portion of the enclosure in position to be exposed through said window to serve as the recipients address when said enclosure is passed through said insert opening with the addressed portion thereof passing through said opening of the compartment nearest the window and to conceal said address of the original sender during the first use of the envelope, said address of the original sender being exposed through said Window when the enclosure is removed and reinserted through said insert opening with said address portion passing through said opening of the compartment remote from the window for the second use of the envelope, a closure flap on one of the panels and extending along the insert opening of the envelope to be tucked into the insert opening and through the open side of the compartment nearest the window opening to retain the enclosure for the first use, and gum on the closure flap for sealing the closure flap to the other panel for retaining the enclosure during the second use of the envelope.

2. An envelope as described in claim 1 wherein the panel having the window has a return address area adapted to be exposed during the first use when the closure flap is tucked into said insert opening and said return address being in a position to be covered by the closure flap during the second use, a return address on said area corresponding to the address on said extension, and wherein the closure flap has a return address thereon for the second mailing, said return address for the second mailing being in a position to be concealed by said panel having the window opening when the closure flap is in said tucked position.

3. A window envelope for two-way use and adapted to contain an addressed enclosure to be sent to a recipient and to be used by the recipient for returning the enclosure to the original sender, said envelope including generally rectangular front and back panels integrally connected along one corresponding edge of each panel by a fold, the front panel having a window therein, end flaps integral with opposite ends of the rear panel and having folds positioning said end flaps between said front and rear panels, stripes of adhesive connecting said end flaps immediately adjacent the folds thereof with corresponding ends of the front panel to cooperate with the first named fold to provide a closed bottom and closed ends for said envelope, the edges of the panels opposite said bottom being unconnected to provide an insert opening along the width of the enevelope, one of said end flaps having an extension covering the window on the inner side of the front panel and providing separate compartments within said envelope on the respective sides of said extension, each of said compartments being open along said insert opening of the envelope, said extension having an address area on the face thereof nearest the window, an address positioned on said address area and serving as the address of the original sender, said compartment nearest the window being adapted to contain the addressed portion of the enclosure in position to be exposed through said window to serve as the recipients address when said enclosure is passed through said insert opening with the addressed portion thereof passing through said opening of the compartment nearest the window and to conceal said address of the original sender during the first use of the envelope, said address of the original sender being exposed when the enclosure is removed and reinserted through said insert opening with said address portion passing through said opening of the compartment remote from the Window for the second use of the envelope, a closure flap on the rear panel and extending along the insert opening of the envelope to be tucked into the insert opening and through the open side of the compartment nearest the window opening to retain the enclosure for the first use, said adhesive stripe at the end of the envelope containing the extension and said corresponding end of the closure flap having shapes to accommodate the closure flap between said extension and the front panel when the closure flap is tucked through said insert opening, and gum on the closure flap for sealing the closure flap to said front panel for retaining the enclosure during the second use of the envelope.

4. A window envelope for two-way use and adapted to contain an addressed enclosure to be sent to a recipient and to be used by the recipient for returning the enclosure to the original sender, said envelope including generally rectangular front and back panels integrally connected along one corresponding edge of each panel by a fold, the trout panel having a window therein, end flaps integral with opposite ends of one of said panels and having folds substantially contiguous with corresponding ends of the other panel to position the end flaps in interlapping relation with ends of the other panel, stripes of adhesive connecting said interlapping portions immediately adjacent the fold of each end flap and to cooperate with the first named fold in forming a pocket between said panels, said pocket having an insert opening coextensive with side edges of the panels opposite said first named fold, one of said end flaps having a length to cover said window but terminating short of the other end flap for dividing the end of the pocket nearest the window into separate compartments, each of said compartments being open along said insert opening, said one end flap having an address area coextensive with said window, an address on said address area serving as the address of the original sender, sai-d compartment nearest the window being adapted to contain the addressed portion of the enclosure in position to be exposed through said window to serve as the recipients address when said enclosure is passed into said pocket through said insert opening with the address portion thereof passing through said opening of said compartment nearest the window and to conceal said address of the original sender during the first use of the envelope, said address of the original sender being exposed when the enclosure is removed from said pocket and reinserted into said pocket through said insert opening with said address portion passing through said opening of the compartment remote from the window for the second use of the envelope, a closure flap on the rear panel and extending along the insert opening of the envelope to be tucked into the insert opening and through the open side of the compartment nearest the window opening to retain the enclosure for the first use, and gum on the closure flap for sealing the closure flap to said panel having the Window opening for retaining the enclosure during the second use of the envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 837,228 Jackson Nov. 27, 1906 911,794 Williams Feb. 9, 1909 1,376,865 Farrington May 3, 1921 1,438,122 McCoy Dec. 5, 1922 1,595,782 Hogan Aug. 10, 1926 1,645,148 McCain Oct. 11, 1927 2,055,716 Berkowitz' Sept. 29, 1936 2,317,497 Thompson Apr. 27, 1945 

